What Is An Infiltrate In the Lung & How to Prevent It

The importance of lung health has been understated for decades, with COVID-19 really bringing it to light. Viral infections can cause abnormal substances to take residence in the respiratory system. These intruders are known as lung or pulmonary infiltrates.

Infiltrates create build-ups that serve as the bridge between patients with severe COVID-19 and pneumonia, tuberculosis, and other critical diseases. Fight back against congestion, shortness of breath, and inflammation by targeting lung infiltration with clinically-backed probiotics. Learn how to address infiltrates in the lungs and COVID symptoms!

What Is An Infiltrate In the Lung?

A pulmonary infiltrate can be a number of things that lead to lung damage. Its first criterion is that the substance is denser than air.

Air flows freely throughout these vital organs in a healthy system. Anything denser could end up clogging up the traffic.

Common types of lung infiltrates include:

• Blood - Common in tuberculosis
• Pus - Common in pneumonia
• Water - Common with pulmonary edema
• Protein - Present in rare lung diseases
• Cancer cells
• Inflammation

Secondly, a lung infiltrate is not native to the lung. Hence the infiltrate in lung infiltration. This substance has infiltrated your pulmonary system!

How COVID-19 Infection Can Worsen Lung Infiltrates

Prior to the 2019 novel coronavirus hospitalizing millions, approximately 300,000 people per year developed pneumonia under mechanical ventilation [1]. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is commonly due to the patient living in a sedentary state while fighting off viral infections.

Cases of COVID-19 increased cases of VAP. It also saw a rise in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) [2]. That is when fluid builds up in the air sacs of your lungs. Incidences where patients had COVID and ARDS saw a 76-98% mortality rate.

What Do Lung Infiltrates Mean?

Lung infiltrates play a significant role in the progression of COVID symptoms and respiratory diseases. They also play an important role in diagnosing chronic diseases. 

An initial chest X-ray looks for white spots in lung tissue to determine if lung infiltrates are present [3]. Then, a doctor can call for lung and chest CT imaging to make a further diagnosis.

Having lung infiltrates can be dangerous but not necessarily a cause for fear. Use this information to help unlock the treatment your body needs. Otherwise, you can also target lung infiltrates to help address the root problem.

How Probiotics Help with Lung Infiltration

The gut-lung axis is a growing body of study within microbiome research. Much like our guts, our lungs are teeming with microbes that help this organ operate smoothly. Lung and gut bacteria work in unison to benefit the overall wellness of their host, which is you!

Studies show that gut and lung bacteria directly communicate with and influence each other [4]. For instance, an abundance of pathogenic bacteria within the gut can infiltrate the lungs of newborns, resulting in cystic fibrosis.

Consequently, a flu infection in the lungs can negatively impact levels of healthy bacteria within the gut. That's why you should get an Ombre Gut Health Test following a viral infection. Discover which bacteria have been wiped out, which bacteria need some support, and which bacteria have gotten out of control.

With that information, we can provide you with personalized food suggestions that will promote balance and diversity in your gut microbiome. We can also provide targeted probiotic recommendations clinically backed to address your symptoms.

Targeted probiotics can be extremely beneficial for lingering lung infiltrates. One clinical study found that a 1:1 "Probiotic supplementation was well-tolerated and reduced nasopharyngeal viral load, lung infiltrates and duration of both digestive and non-digestive symptoms, compared to placebo [5]."

In fact, complete remission of viral load and reduction of lung infiltrates were found in 53.1% of participants. This study used a targeted probiotic that featured various strains, including Pediococcus acidilactici KABP021, as well as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KABP022, KABP023, and KAPB033. 

These four strains are featured in our proprietary blend of immune-boosting probiotics -- Ultimate Immunity.

Ultimate Immunity only contains strains that are backed by clinical studies. Each probiotic strain has an intended benefit that will support your immune system, shorten the severity of COVID symptoms, and significantly reduce pulmonary infiltrates.

Breathe easier not only during COVID season but all year round. Target pathogens that cause chronic inflammation, ease your symptoms of food allergies or intolerances, and strengthen your gut barrier to prevent disease. Give your respiratory system the support it needs with Ombre Ultimate Immunity.

Resources

[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC1592694

[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33371426/

[3] https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/pneumonia

[4] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19490976.2021.2018899